Type-writing machine



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1. R. W. WHITNEY.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE. No. 445,213. Patented Jan. 27,1891.

n vemtov (No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

R. W. WHITNEY.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE. No. 445,213. Patented Jan. 27,1891.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUEL IV. WVHITNEY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,213, dated January 27, 1891.

Application filed May 21, 1889- Serial No. 311,559. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RUEL W. WHITNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-Writing Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention has for its object the provision of a cheap, simple, and easily-worked typewriter, and my device belongs to that class of type-writers in which the types are set around a wheel.

I have constructed my invention as described in the following specification, and with such novel features as are particularly set forth in the claims at the end of the same.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of my type-writer. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line as a' of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section on the line y y of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a plan of the reciproeating mechanism of my device, the typewheel being removed to show the bearing and slot for the same. Fig. 6 is a bottom plan of the reciprocating type wheel and bearing, and Fig. 7 is a modified carriage-feed spring.

Like letters of reference refer to the same part in every instance.

A is the base of my machine. which is preferably a board cut to the proper shape. At each side of the base there rises a bracketA A Between these brackets the whole of the working parts of my device are set as shown. At each side of the front of the base there is pivoted a stop A, intended to be depressed, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, for abutment against the edge of the table or other stand upon which the type-writer is placed, and are intended to prevent forward movement of the base each time the wheel is pushed forward.

Between the side brackets and at the back of the machine three rods are placed. These are shown at B, C, and E. Of these the rods B and U are pivoted in the brackets, and G is preferably constructed of some yielding elastic material, as rubber. Beneath this rod or roller there is placed the spring-bail D. top rod or roller B is borne in slot-bearings The B, as seen in Fig. at, and is provided with circular elastic contact-pieces B pressing upon the periphery of the elastic roller G, as shown plainly in Fig. 4. Outside of the brackets, preferably, are the springs Biwhich bear upon the top of the outward projections of the roller B beyond said brackets, bearing the same down toward the roller C. The spring bail D extends entirely across the base from end to end, and is supported by springs D, attached back of said bail to the side brackets of the machine. These springs tend to press the bail up against the under side of the roller C. and thus to keep the paper in place from beneath.

In placing the paper upon which the operator intends to write, the edge is first introduced between the bail and the roller 0,

. thence around said roller, and under the rod B, being kept in contact with O by the wheels 13 These wheels press down on the paper by virtue of the springs B at the sides of the device.

The roller 0 is provided, preferably at the right-hand side of the type-writer, with a ratchet-wheel C next the bracket upon that side. Pivoted at (3- near said ratchet-wheel, there is a spacer C having a lower section acting as a weight to keep it normallyin the position shown in Fig. at. This weight-section is shown at C Abeak extends upward from the spacer, as shown at C and engages with the teeth of the ratchet C. The whole spacer is supported by the bar 0, attached to the side of the bracket. It will be seen that by simply pushing at the end of the spacer which projects beyond the bracket the beak will be made to push on the ratchet-wheel and the roller C will be made to revolve, thus pushing the paperon one line farther.

The rod E is preferably of smooth metal, as it serves simply as the forward bearing or rail upon which the carriage or wheel-bearing slides. This wheel-bearing is made, preferably, of a sheet of metal, (shown at G,) and is provided with a sleeve Gr, sliding upon the forward rod N F and having a recess therein at G as is shown in Fig. 5, where the sleeve is broken awayto show the farther side of the same. The bearing-plate is slotted in the middle, as shown at G and is provided at its forward end with a paper-flattener G ing toward the operatori n a flaring entrance,

as shown.

The forward rod F is provided with ratchet teeth, making an inward turned rack, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The top of this rack is numbered at intervals, in-order to enable the operator to space intelligently and to pre-' serve a constant margin. This makes a scale upon the rack-bar of the machine. Attached to the bearing-plate at any convenient point, but preferably at the sleeve of the same, there is an elastic'cord F, which passes over alittle pulley at the left of thedevice, and thence returns to the right-hand side, where its end is fastened. It is evident that this device is for the purpose of retaining the carriage against the teeth of the rack-bar, as will be seen farther on, and thusinsuring the proper spacing of the letters. Of course the elastic need only extend to the side where the pulley is shown, and need go no farther; but it is found expedient to use the form of attachment shown in Fig. 2, in order to get a certainty of tension during the whole travel .of the carriage.

H is the type-wheel, having an upper flange, at the outer periphery of which are set the types, as at H. Under the flange upon which the types are set are inserted a number of pins H one for each type. These pins extend radially, and are for the purpose of guiding the types to the paper, as will be explained farther on. At the top of the type-wheel there is a knob H preferably attached to the wheel by means of a bolt H extending through to the bottom of the same and being secured by means of a nutH. Just under the nut 11 there is a cross-plate II, which serves to secure the wheel to the top of the bearing plate. Between the cross-plate ll and the bottom of the wheel there is a guide-plate H, which fits within the slot G in the middle of the bearing-plate. This slot extends in the direction in which the wheel is to move in the process of printing, and thus the uideplate guides the wheel in this movement Secured underthe type-wheel, and preferably to the guide-plate, is a pair of arms I, which may also be in one piece and made of wire, as

shown, in which case they would be held to the plate by a screw. At the ends of the.

arms I are the inking-rollers I,.made.of any well-known ink-absorbing material and pressing against the types on the periphery'of the wheel. By means of these rollersthe'types' are kept inked for printing. Pivoted-to the guide-plate is a pawl J, the tip of which'is adapted to engage with the teeth on the rackbar. This pawl extends to the left of the ob server, and as the Wheel moves backward,

from the position shown in Fig. 5 in dotted lines to that shown in full lines therein the ,peated.

pawl, pushing upon the teeth of the rack-bar, thrusts the whole carriage toward the right. This pawl is held against the teeth by means of a spring J,one end of which projects over the pawl and the other end of which is turned dOWIIlIltO the rack, acting as a stop to prevent backward movement and to steady the carriage. The tip'of the pawl projects through the recess on the sleeve, as at G It is evident that when the carriage is turned upout of theoperative plane the pawl and stop are disengaged from the teeth of the rack, and the operator is enabled to return the wheel to the beginning of the line. Once here, the knob is turned until the desired letter is brought opposite the printing-point, when th'e'pin under the same will be opposite the flared entrance between the two parts of the guide G The wheel is then thrustforward, bringing the type in contact with the paper, exact and square contact being insured by the passage of the pin between the parts of said guide. The wheel is then drawn back and by the action of the pawl thrust to the right one notch. Then the wheel is turned until the next letter is brought into the proper position, when the whole operation is re- The turning of the wheel to bring the successive letters into place causes the proper inking of the same by the rollers I. The elastic cord F keeps the tip of the pawl always in complete contact with the proper tooth'of the rack, and thus insures an even spacing of the letters. At the end of a line the lever O is thrust forward to bring the next line into place for printing, and the carturning of the same.

The top of the type-wheel is decked with figures all around the rim of the same, which correspond to those on the types just below said figures, and thus the operator is enabled to determine the position of the letters in printing.

. One of the advantages of my device is the possibility of reading the characters as they are written without having to raise or uncover any parts of the machine.

In Fig. -7 I have illustrated one form of printing-wheel-carriage spring. Ini mediately under the ratchet rod I place a wire F, having a spiral spring playing and pushing upon it loosely for the purpose of cushioning the hand-feed carriage and keeping the pawl in contact with the teeth 011 rod F. This may be used instead of the elastic cord. The spiral spring is compressed, while the cord is printing. The spring bears against the right- ICC IIO

hand bracket A, and the loose end pushes against a small sleeve F which engages in a slot G in the sleeve G upon the ratchetrod, as shown in Fig. 7. A band F passes around both upon the ratchet-rod and the short sleeve, which plays upon the wire, the object being to hold the two in contact.

What I claim isl. A type-carriage bearing a type-wheel provided with types and corresponding pins set radially in the offset below the type, combined with a slotted paper-flattener attached to the front of the carriage, a bearing-plate, and a guide carried by said plate and provided with an opening for the reception of said pins, substantially as specified.

2. A type-carriage havinga type-Wheel provided with types and corresponding radial pins terminating within the periphery of the wheel and in an offset below the type, in combination with a paper-flattener having resilient portions, and a guide attached to the front of said carriage and provided with an opening for the passage of said pins, substantially as specified.

A type-carriage bearing a type-Wheel provided with types and corresponding pins set radially, combined with a bearing-plate G and a guide upon said bearing-plate, and comprising two lugs separated by a narrow longitudinal passage opening toward the operator in a daring entrance, substantially as described. V

4. A type-carriage bearing a type-wheel provided with types and corresponding pins set radially, combined with a slotted bearingplate provided with a paper-fiattener having springing risers, substantially as described.

5. In a type-writer, a rack-bar, and a recessed carriage bearing a sleeve loosely surrounding said bar, in combination with a type wheel borne upon said carriage and sliding back and forth upon the same in said recess, a plate arranged in the recess of the carriage, and a pivoted pawl on said plate, the end of which is adapted to engage with the teeth of said'rack, substantially as specified.

6. In a ty1.)e-\\'riter, a rack-bar, and a carriage bearing a sleeve loosely surrounding said bar, in combination with a typewheel mounted upon said carriage and sliding back andforth thereupon at right angles to the travel of the carriage, and a pawl pivoted beneath the type-wheel and having its end in engagement with the teeth of said rack, substantially as specified.

7. A PFLPGFhOltlGl', a rack-bar, and an intermediate support, in combination with a carriage having a sleeve loosely surrounding said rack-bar, a slot in said carriage, the forward end of said carriage resting upon said intermediate support, a type-wheel having a guide-plate adapted to slide in said slot,

and a pawl pivoted to said plate and having its end in engagement with the teeth of said rack, substantially as specified.

8. In a type-writer, a raek-bar and a carriage provided with a sleeve looselysurronnding said bar, said sleeve having a recess, in combination with a type-wheel sliding back and forth on said carriage at right angles to the travel of the carriage, a pawl pivoted beneath said wheel, and a spring bearing upon said pawl and tending to keep its end in engagement with the teeth of said rack, sub stantially as specified.

9. In combination with the paper-holder of a type-Writer, a type-wheel reciprocating in front of said holder, and rotatable also, and resilient arms attached to said wheel and bearing ink-rollers turning in contact with the types on said wheel, substantially as specified.

10. In combination with a paper-roller and the side brackets in which it is journaled, said brackets having vertically-elongated slots over said roller, a top roller borne in said slots and provided with elastic contact-pieces and bearing upon the top of said paper-roller, and springs at the sides of said brackets hearing upon the outer ends of said top roller, substantially as specified.

11. I11 a type-writer, a type-carriage horizontally disposed and having a slot, in combination with a type-wheel, a guide-plate sliding in said slot, and a cross-piece projecting across said slot upon the pivot of the wheel and holding the wheel to the carriage, sub stantially as specified.

12. In combination with the type-carriage of a type-writer, a pulley at the left of the same, and an elastic cord attached to the carriage running over said pulley, concealed within a stationary portion of the base, and attached at the right of said carriage, substantially as specified.

13. In combination with the paper-holder of a type-writer, a type-wheel reciprocating in front of said holder and rotatable on the vertical axis, the guide-plate, the arms secured to said guide-plate, and ink-rollers carried by the free end of said arms and turning in contact with the types of the type-wheel, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BUEL W. WHITNEY. Witnesses:

W. F. SwAsEY, C. A. UPHAH. 

